A second debate between the two candidates for Greenville County Sheriff is cancelled with little notice

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Updated: 11:19 PM EST Feb 27, 2020

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UPSTATE. I WILL SHOW YOU WHAT THAT MEANS IN A FEW MINUTES. >> THE DEBATE THAT NEVER WAS. VOTERS ARRIVED AT THE HUGHES LIBRARY EXPECTING A FORUM BETWEEN THE TWO CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR GREENVILLE COUNTY SHERIFF. >> BUT ONE OF THOSE CANDIDATES, NEVER SHOWED. MADELEINE HACKETT JOINS FROM THE LIBRARY, WITH MORE ON WHAT HAPPENED. >> THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDAT PAUL GUY WHO WAS HERE TONIGHT USED THE TERM UNPROFESSIONAL FOOLISHNESS TO DESCRIBE THE OVERALL OUTCOME AND VOTERS WHO SHOWED UP HERE, EXPECTING A DEBATE, WERE NOT HAPPY EITHER. >> THIS WAS IMPORTANT TO ME, AND BECAUSE I CAME HERE TONIGHT, I FOUND OUT A LOT ABOUT PAUL GUY AND NOTHING ABOUT MR. HOBART, A . >> A LET DOWN TIMES TWO FOR GREENVILLE COUNTY VOTERS. WHO SHOWED UP AT THE HUGHES LIBRARY THIS EVENING, EXPECTING A FORUM BETWEEN THE TWO SHERIFF’S CANDIDATES. AND NOT ONLY WERE THE CHAIRS IN THE ROOM MISSING, BUT SO WAS ONE OF THE CANDIDATES. >> THERE’S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE CONCERNED IN EVERY DISTRICT. WE’RE CONCERNED WITH OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT. WE’RE CONCERNED WITH GETTING THIS TOGETHER. BUT I AM VERY VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH HOBART LEWIS TONIGHT. >> HOBART LEWIS TELLS ME, HE CAME DOWN WITH THE FLU AND COULDN’T MAKE IT. ISSUING THIS STATEMENT SAYING, I APOLOGIZE FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE TO THOSE WHO WANTED TO ATTEND TONGIHT’S DEBAE. DUE TO AN ILLNESS I COULD NOT ATTEND. WE LET THE ORGANIZER KNOW THIS MORNING. I LOOK FORWARD TO IT BEING RESCHEDULED. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME A DEBATE’S BEEN CANCELLED ON PAUL GUY. AND SAYS, IT’S STARTING TO FEEL PERSONAL. >> THIS WHOLE ELECTION HAS NOT BEEN A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD, I FEEL LIKE THROUGHOUT THIS ELECTION I’VE BEEN DISRESPECTED. >> AS THE CLOCK TICKS DOWN TO ELECTION DAY, PAUL GUY USED TONIGHT TO HIS BENEFIT. INTERRACT WITH THE VOTERS WHO SHOWED UP. AND SHARED IDEAS FROM HIS OWN PLATFORM. INCLUDING OFFICER ACCOUNTABILITY. COMMUNITY POLICING. AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWAR

It was the debate that never was Thursday night in Greenville County.Voters arrived at the Hughes Library in Greenville expecting a forum between Republican candidate, Hobart Lewis and Democratic challenger, Paul Guy. The two men are running for Greenville County sheriff. However, Hobart Lewis was unable to attend and tells WYFF News 4, that he came down with the flu. "This was important to me and because I came here tonight I found out a lot about Paul Guy and nothing about Mr. Hobart,"said one voter who says she is still undecided. "My schedule has been centered around being here tonight. We have questions. Somebody needs to be here to ask about the opioid epidemic and the platform is for helping individuals with that or training officers on substance abuse disorder."Lewis issued the following statement regarding his absence from the forum: "I apologize for any inconvenience to those who wanted to attend tonight's debate. Due to an illness I could not attend. We let the organizer know this morning. I look forward to it being rescheduled."But for Paul Guy, who has now been cancelled on twice, it's starting to feel personal. "This whole election has not been a level playing field ... I feel like throughout this election I've been disrespected," Guy said.About two weeks out from election day, Guy used the night to his advantage and interacted with the voters who still showed up. He answered questions and talked about ideas from his own platform including officer accountability, community policing and human trafficking awareness. The election is March 10. Early voting at County Square has already begun.

It was the debate that never was Thursday night in Greenville County.

Voters arrived at the Hughes Library in Greenville expecting a forum between Republican candidate, Hobart Lewis and Democratic challenger, Paul Guy. The two men are running for Greenville County sheriff.

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However, Hobart Lewis was unable to attend and tells WYFF News 4, that he came down with the flu.

"This was important to me and because I came here tonight I found out a lot about Paul Guy and nothing about Mr. Hobart,"said one voter who says she is still undecided. "My schedule has been centered around being here tonight. We have questions. Somebody needs to be here to ask about the opioid epidemic and the platform is for helping individuals with that or training officers on substance abuse disorder."

Lewis issued the following statement regarding his absence from the forum: "I apologize for any inconvenience to those who wanted to attend tonight's debate. Due to an illness I could not attend. We let the organizer know this morning. I look forward to it being rescheduled."

But for Paul Guy, who has now been cancelled on twice, it's starting to feel personal.

"This whole election has not been a level playing field ... I feel like throughout this election I've been disrespected," Guy said.

About two weeks out from election day, Guy used the night to his advantage and interacted with the voters who still showed up. He answered questions and talked about ideas from his own platform including officer accountability, community policing and human trafficking awareness.

The election is March 10. Early voting at County Square has already begun.